Tandem Car Carrier

[Blueberry]

All-

I'd appreciate any suggestions you may have on rack mounts for our relatively recently acquired tandem. It's vintage 93 - no disk brakes. We currently have 3 rack systems on 3 cars (eek!). We have Tule on 1, yak on another and factory cross bars on my Element. Is there a rack that would fit all? Barring that, what rack is the most secure (we've almost lost a bike off a rack before...I'm talking about holding the bike firmly, not theft). Would be nice if it's easy to load, but DH is pretty comfortable handling the tandem (and he'd be going wherever the tandem goes).

Thanks!!

CA

[maillotpois]

We really love our Yakima Sidewinder.

http://www.trucksport.zoovy.com/product/2071?meta=FRG

One person can load the tandem easily, which is key for me as the person I ride the tandem with is DD, and she's no help whatsoever in loading a tandem with her general shortness.

[Natasha]

We use a Yakima sidewinder for our tandem. I'm not sure if you can use it on Thule bars, we have the Yakima round ones. It is quite secure and easy to load. It loads from the side with the front fork engaged in the rack. You then swing the rear up onto the rack.

[maillotpois]

You can use the sidewinder on Thule bars.

[bike4ever]

The sidewinder will fit both bars (round and square). This will not fit onto the factory rack of the Element. Please keep in mind, the Element's factory rack only has a 75 lb weight limit. If you were to remove the factory rack and install a Yakima or Thule rack, you would bump the weight limit up to 125 lbs.

For Yakima, you would need Control Towers, 58" load bars, and 2 sets of Landing Pad 9. This is around $225.

[Mr. SR500]

We use a Sidewinder as well on our Thule rack. Works great.

[malkin]

The Smart Car trumps me, but we do use a Hollywood F4 to carry our tandem on the back of a Yaris hatchback.

[anakiwa]

We've put ours on the rear rack for my Subaru. With the front wheel taken off, the tandem the tandem doesn't add much more width than a regular bike with the wheel on.